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Grounded in the Present: Grounded in the Present: Benefits of Mindfulness Practices for Benefits of Mindfulness Practices for

Those in Helping Professions Those in Helping Professions

MARY STANTON M Ed LADACMARY STANTON M Ed LADACMARY STANTON, M.Ed., LADACMARY STANTON, M.Ed., LADACROBIN RETTMER, LISACROBIN RETTMER, LISAC

Amity FoundationAmity FoundationCircle Tree Ranch Circle Tree Ranch

((www.circletreeranch.orgwww.circletreeranch.org))Tucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona

A World in CrisisA World in Crisis

We live in a world of increasing alienation, We live in a world of increasing alienation, disconnection, and fragmentationdisconnection, and fragmentation

We bear witness to the pain of others day We bear witness to the pain of others day after dayafter dayafter dayafter day

Mindfulness techniques have been found Mindfulness techniques have been found to contribute to personal and professional to contribute to personal and professional healing.healing.

Global ChallengesGlobal Challenges

Advances in technology designed to “connect” Advances in technology designed to “connect” people have resulted in increased Isolation, people have resulted in increased Isolation, loneliness; declining relational skills loneliness; declining relational skills

Loss of nonLoss of non--verbal cues impacts emotional verbal cues impacts emotional communication; fundamental need to “feelcommunication; fundamental need to “feelcommunication; fundamental need to feel communication; fundamental need to feel felt” is unmet felt” is unmet

Social Networking and Virtual Communities Social Networking and Virtual Communities Blogs, Twitter, My Space, FacebookBlogs, Twitter, My Space, FacebookLoss of interpersonal relational skillsLoss of interpersonal relational skills

Socially isolated individuals are at a higher risk for depression and suicide

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Professional ChallengesProfessional Challenges

The accumulated exposure to trauma, pain, The accumulated exposure to trauma, pain, and distress in working with others carries and distress in working with others carries with it consequences including:with it consequences including: BurnoutBurnout Compassion fatigueCompassion fatigue Compassion fatigueCompassion fatigue Vicarious traumaVicarious trauma Feelings of being underappreciated and Feelings of being underappreciated and

overwhelmedoverwhelmed

Impact on the therapeutic relationshipImpact on the therapeutic relationship The “energy of the healer” is critically importantThe “energy of the healer” is critically important There is a direct relationship between the There is a direct relationship between the

therapeutic relationship and treatment outcomestherapeutic relationship and treatment outcomes

Personal ChallengesPersonal Challenges

Lack of balance, integration, Lack of balance, integration, and harmony in our and harmony in our personal lives impacts us personal lives impacts us physically, emotionally, and physically, emotionally, and spirituallyspirituallyspirituallyspiritually

Lack of awareness of our Lack of awareness of our own emotional baggage can own emotional baggage can unpredictably interfere in unpredictably interfere in our relationship with self our relationship with self and othersand others

Personal ChallengesPersonal Challenges Feelings of inadequacy Feelings of inadequacy

resulting from early life resulting from early life experiences often result experiences often result in unhealthy coping in unhealthy coping strategies: resistance, strategies: resistance, denial, perfectionism, selfdenial, perfectionism, self--judgment judgment

Shifting perspective and Shifting perspective and making sense of our own making sense of our own life history is an essential life history is an essential starting point for creating starting point for creating nurturing, secure nurturing, secure relationships relationships

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Mindfulness: A DefinitionMindfulness: A Definition

Synonyms of “Mindful”: alert, astute, attentive, Synonyms of “Mindful”: alert, astute, attentive, aware, careful, heedful, thoughtful, wary, aware, careful, heedful, thoughtful, wary, watchful, and wise watchful, and wise

~ J. I. Rodale (1978)

Mindfulness in education: open minded and Mindfulness in education: open minded and avoiding premature closure of possibilitiesavoiding premature closure of possibilities

~ Ellen Langer (1997). “Mindful Education”Ellen Langer (1997). “Mindful Education”

Contemplative usage: Contemplative usage: “A state of awareness that emerges through paying

attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally to unfolding of experience moment by moment.”

~ Jon Kabat-Zinn (2005)

The Challenge of NonThe Challenge of Non--DoingDoing We live in a driven, goal oriented societyWe live in a driven, goal oriented society Value is placed on being productive; on “doing” Value is placed on being productive; on “doing”

rather than “being”rather than “being” The The goalgoal of mindful practice is simply of mindful practice is simply mindful mindful

practicepractice –– it is not about going anywhere or doing it is not about going anywhere or doing anythinganything

The 3The 3--Minute Minute

Breathing Space Breathing Space g pg p

Meditation Meditation PracticePractice

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CompassionCompassion

“Act as if you always had compassion, and “Act as if you always had compassion, and then you will find then you will find

you always did.” you always did.” ~~Bob Aitken RoshiBob Aitken Roshi

Mindful AwarenessMindful Awareness

Mindful awareness helps us to identify Mindful awareness helps us to identify leftover, unresolved issues, and approach leftover, unresolved issues, and approach them with compassion.them with compassion.

Mindfulness Practices provide a means of Mindfulness Practices provide a means of tuning into our physical, emotional, andtuning into our physical, emotional, andtuning into our physical, emotional, and tuning into our physical, emotional, and spiritual experiences as they unfold moment spiritual experiences as they unfold moment by moment in response to life’s challenges. by moment in response to life’s challenges.

Reflecting on emotionally significant themes, Reflecting on emotionally significant themes, past or present, and integrating them into our past or present, and integrating them into our selfself--understanding, allows those around us to understanding, allows those around us to experience their own emotional worlds without experience their own emotional worlds without restrictions or fear. restrictions or fear.

A Mindful Approach to A Mindful Approach to Areas of DifficultyAreas of Difficulty

Being fully present through mindful Being fully present through mindful awareness training has been awareness training has been demonstrated to be a crucial factor in demonstrated to be a crucial factor in giving us resilience to face challenges that giving us resilience to face challenges that arise in our daily lives. arise in our daily lives.

~ Daniel Siegel (2010)~ Daniel Siegel (2010)

We develop an “approach” state: moving We develop an “approach” state: moving toward rather than away from difficult toward rather than away from difficult situations. situations.

~ Davidson, et al. (2003) ~ Davidson, et al. (2003)

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Mindful Presence: Mindful Presence: A Courageous DisciplineA Courageous Discipline

“We have to face the pain we have been running “We have to face the pain we have been running from. In fact, we need to learn to rest in it and from. In fact, we need to learn to rest in it and

let its searing power transform us.”let its searing power transform us.”

~ Charlotte Joko Beck~ Charlotte Joko Beck

The Gift of PresenceThe Gift of Presence

Every day we miss opportunities for making Every day we miss opportunities for making true connection with others true connection with others

Instead of listening empathically and Instead of listening empathically and responding appropriately, we respond from responding appropriately, we respond from our own point of view and fail to make a our own point of view and fail to make a connection to the other person’s experience.connection to the other person’s experience.

Mindfulness techniques improve our ability Mindfulness techniques improve our ability to separate our own issues, thoughts, and to separate our own issues, thoughts, and emotions from those of the other person.emotions from those of the other person.

PresencePresence

“The most precious gift we can offer others “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness is our presence. When mindfulness

embraces those we love, they will bloom embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” like flowers.”

~~Thich Nhat HanhThich Nhat Hanh

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Presence is not PassivityPresence is not Passivity

We recognize that often we have to intervene, We recognize that often we have to intervene, sometimes rather forcefully in people’s livessometimes rather forcefully in people’s lives--------but but being aware of who we are and where we are coming being aware of who we are and where we are coming from will help us not to be reactive and to do this from will help us not to be reactive and to do this appropriately.appropriately.

We often are working with groups not just theWe often are working with groups not just the We often are working with groups, not just the We often are working with groups, not just the “therapeutic dyad”. In these situations it is essential “therapeutic dyad”. In these situations it is essential to be centered and aware of the entire group to be centered and aware of the entire group dynamic.dynamic.

Presence allows us to “meet people where they are”, Presence allows us to “meet people where they are”, both confronting and supporting. both confronting and supporting.

“People need both. It is the sound of two hands clapping.”“People need both. It is the sound of two hands clapping.”~~ Betty DederichBetty Dederich

The LovingThe Loving--Kindness Kindness

Meditation PracticeMeditation Practice

AttunementAttunement

Attunement requires focused attention on Attunement requires focused attention on something or someone outside of ourselves something or someone outside of ourselves and taking that essence into our internal worldand taking that essence into our internal world

Interpersonal attunementInterpersonal attunement Interpersonal attunementInterpersonal attunement Taking in the internal world of other people and Taking in the internal world of other people and

allowing them to shape who we are in that momentallowing them to shape who we are in that moment

A simple but challenging practiceA simple but challenging practice Letting go of our internal notion of what should be Letting go of our internal notion of what should be

and remaining open to what isand remaining open to what is~ Daniel Siegel (2010)~ Daniel Siegel (2010)

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Creating SanctuaryCreating Sanctuary

Our job is not to be the one who knows Our job is not to be the one who knows everything everything ------ It is to be present, attuned, and It is to be present, attuned, and openopen

Through presence and attunement we provide Through presence and attunement we provide the sense of safety and security necessary tothe sense of safety and security necessary tothe sense of safety and security necessary to the sense of safety and security necessary to build trustbuild trust

As each person attunes to the other, a deep As each person attunes to the other, a deep feeling of coherence, resonance, and feeling of coherence, resonance, and harmony is establishedharmony is established Feeling felt, heard, and seenFeeling felt, heard, and seen A genuine sense of care and interest develops A genuine sense of care and interest develops

Respond with Kindness and Compassion

Non-Verbal Cues Relaxed, Open Body Posture Facial Expressions/Eye Contact Respectful Movements

Accepting non-judgmental presence Accepting, non-judgmental presence Empathize with feelings

Empathy ~ being sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another without the person directly communicating these feelings.

Provide authentic evidence that we are changed in the moment because of another’s internal world

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Practicing AttunementPracticing Attunement

Returning to the Returning to the

LovingLoving--Kindness MeditationKindness Meditation

And listening with an And listening with an

open heartopen heart

Personal and ProfessionalPersonal and ProfessionalBenefits of MindfulnessBenefits of Mindfulness

Caring for ourselves is an Caring for ourselves is an essential daily practice essential daily practice ––not a luxurynot a luxury

Self reflection is not Self reflection is not selfish selfish –– without it we without it we become limited in how webecome limited in how webecome limited in how we become limited in how we can care for others.can care for others.

Taking brief periods of Taking brief periods of time to reconnect to the time to reconnect to the present moment present moment throughout the day helps throughout the day helps us to “reset”, improving us to “reset”, improving our ability to focus our our ability to focus our attention.attention.

Resiliency: Resiliency: A Benefit of MindfulnessA Benefit of Mindfulness

Resilience is the ability to bounce back Resilience is the ability to bounce back after experiencing disappointment, stress, after experiencing disappointment, stress, or trauma or trauma Adapting to changing circumstances Adapting to changing circumstances Responding positively to difficult situationsResponding positively to difficult situations Turning the most difficult or traumatic Turning the most difficult or traumatic

experiences into constructive onesexperiences into constructive ones Using coping strategies and problemUsing coping strategies and problem--solving solving

skills effectively to work through difficultiesskills effectively to work through difficulties

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ResiliencyResiliency

Resilience is the Resilience is the ability to learn and ability to learn and grow through the grow through the g gg gpositive and the positive and the negative experiences negative experiences of life.of life.

Factors That Contribute to Factors That Contribute to Individual WellIndividual Well--BeingBeing

A Holistic ApproachA Holistic Approach Self Image:Self Image: sense of self, including selfsense of self, including self--esteem secure esteem secure

identity, ability to cope, and mental health and wellidentity, ability to cope, and mental health and well--beingbeing

Behavior:Behavior: social skills including life skills, communication, social skills including life skills, communication, fl ibilit d ifl ibilit d iflexibility, and caringflexibility, and caring

Spirit:Spirit: sense of purpose, including motivation, purpose in sense of purpose, including motivation, purpose in life, spirituality, beliefs, and meaninglife, spirituality, beliefs, and meaning

Heart:Heart: emotional stability, including emotional skills, emotional stability, including emotional skills, humor, and empathyhumor, and empathy

Mind:Mind: problem solving skills, including planning, problemproblem solving skills, including planning, problem--solving, helpsolving, help--seeking, and critical and creativeseeking, and critical and creative--thinking.thinking.

Body:Body: physical health, physical energy, and physical physical health, physical energy, and physical capacitycapacity

Mindfulness:Mindfulness:An Ancient Practice Becomes an An Ancient Practice Becomes an

Innovative SolutionInnovative Solution

Mindfulness practices enhance selfMindfulness practices enhance self--efficacy, efficacy, selfself--knowledge, selfknowledge, self--care, and wellness.care, and wellness.

Changes in brain, mind, body & behavior result Changes in brain, mind, body & behavior result g yg yfrom the daily discipline of mindfulness from the daily discipline of mindfulness meditation, influencing emotional, mental, social, meditation, influencing emotional, mental, social, and spiritual health. and spiritual health.

Personal and collective transformation is Personal and collective transformation is possible when individuals, families, and possible when individuals, families, and communities become more mindful. communities become more mindful.

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Implementing Mindfulness in a Implementing Mindfulness in a Therapeutic CommunityTherapeutic Community

The Therapeutic The Therapeutic Community provides an Community provides an ideal setting for ideal setting for practicing and teaching practicing and teaching Mindfulness techniquesMindfulness techniquesqq Whole person approach to Whole person approach to

treatment treatment An environment that fosters An environment that fosters

trust, where new values can trust, where new values can be formedbe formed

Responsibility is developed Responsibility is developed by teaching people the by teaching people the ability to respond without ability to respond without impulsivity. impulsivity.

Implementing Mindfulness in a Implementing Mindfulness in a Therapeutic CommunityTherapeutic Community

“Community as Method”“Community as Method” ~~George De Leon (2000)George De Leon (2000)

All members of the community work to develop All members of the community work to develop healthy behavioral patterns which expand both mind healthy behavioral patterns which expand both mind and spirit and spirit Faculty serve dual roles as role models andFaculty serve dual roles as role models and Faculty serve dual roles as role models and Faculty serve dual roles as role models and

counselorscounselors Example: As faculty members integrate mindfulness in Example: As faculty members integrate mindfulness in

their personal lives, they model the benefits for others.their personal lives, they model the benefits for others.

Emphasis on peer accountability and mutually Emphasis on peer accountability and mutually supportive relationshipssupportive relationships

Community folds around the person, and changes to Community folds around the person, and changes to keep current and innovativekeep current and innovative

A Mindful CommunityA Mindful Community

Imagine for a moment what a “Mindful Imagine for a moment what a “Mindful Community” would look like; feel like…Community” would look like; feel like… Within our family, neighborhood, work place Within our family, neighborhood, work place

Building healthy relationships and stronger Building healthy relationships and stronger Building healthy relationships and stronger Building healthy relationships and stronger familiesfamilies Mindfulness improves skills in areas such Mindfulness improves skills in areas such

as parenting, communication, as parenting, communication, relationships, money management, stress relationships, money management, stress management and coping skills.management and coping skills.

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A Mindful CommunityA Mindful Community

Encouraging healthy lifestyles Encouraging healthy lifestyles Promote regular exercisePromote regular exercise Provide continuing education opportunitiesProvide continuing education opportunities

Building community cohesionBuilding community cohesion Communities that work together and work Communities that work together and work Communities that work together and work Communities that work together and work

towards common goals have a greater sense of towards common goals have a greater sense of optimism and morale.optimism and morale.

Building safe and healthy environments Building safe and healthy environments Communities that are safe and secure are more Communities that are safe and secure are more

likely to manage difficult circumstances likely to manage difficult circumstances positively.positively.

Mindfulness:Mindfulness:Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Amity Foundation provides the opportunity for Amity Foundation provides the opportunity for all members of our faculty and staff to all members of our faculty and staff to participate in Mindfulnessparticipate in Mindfulness--Based Courses.Based Courses.

Participants report:Participants report: Mindfulness practices have facilitated empathic Mindfulness practices have facilitated empathic

attitudes among Circle Tree Ranch Practitioners.attitudes among Circle Tree Ranch Practitioners. Mindfulness practices increase selfMindfulness practices increase self--care and care and

decrease the tendency to take on others’ negative decrease the tendency to take on others’ negative emotions.emotions.

SelfSelf--care trickles down to improve the quality of care trickles down to improve the quality of other relationships, reducing “burnother relationships, reducing “burn--out”.out”.

What We Have LearnedWhat We Have Learned When we began integrating Mindfulness practices in When we began integrating Mindfulness practices in

the Therapeutic Community we did not consider the the Therapeutic Community we did not consider the personal benefits or the impact on the community as a personal benefits or the impact on the community as a whole.whole.

Faculty report an increased capacity to cope with Faculty report an increased capacity to cope with stress, improved focus, and a decrease in feelings stress, improved focus, and a decrease in feelings

i t d ith “bi t d ith “b t”t”associated with “burnassociated with “burn--out”. out”. Residents report a calm, accepting, nonResidents report a calm, accepting, non--reactive reactive

environment which creates the necessary sanctuary for environment which creates the necessary sanctuary for personal growth and healing.personal growth and healing.

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Mindfulness:Mindfulness:Professional TrainingProfessional Training

Amity offers professional Amity offers professional training and retreat training and retreat opportunities at our Circle Tree opportunities at our Circle Tree Ranch Campus in Tucson, AZ.Ranch Campus in Tucson, AZ.

Course objectives:Course objectives:jj To develop and deepen personal To develop and deepen personal

mindfulnessmindfulness--based meditation based meditation practicespractices

To understand course curriculum To understand course curriculum and discuss methods for course and discuss methods for course implementation in a variety of implementation in a variety of settingssettings

Explore techniques for facilitating Explore techniques for facilitating mindfulness courses through mindfulness courses through practice and feedback sessionspractice and feedback sessions

SummarySummary

We encourage others in helping professions to We encourage others in helping professions to incorporate mindfulness practices and to incorporate mindfulness practices and to experience the personal and professional experience the personal and professional benefits.benefits. Mindfulness practices assist in developing:Mindfulness practices assist in developing:

Presence Presence -- a gift to ourselves and othersa gift to ourselves and others Attunement Attunement –– creating the sense of safety, security and creating the sense of safety, security and

trust necessary to build healthy relationshipstrust necessary to build healthy relationships Resilience Resilience -- facing challenges that arise in our daily livesfacing challenges that arise in our daily lives

Caring for ourselves as an essential daily practice Caring for ourselves as an essential daily practice

Thank your for your participation. Thank your for your participation. Let us know how it works for you! Let us know how it works for you!

Contact InfoContact Info

Mary Stanton, M.Ed., LADACMary Stanton, M.Ed., LADACmstanton@amityfdn.orgmstanton@amityfdn.org

Robin Rettmer, LISACRobin Rettmer, LISACrrettmer@amityfdn.orgrrettmer@amityfdn.org

Amity FoundationAmity FoundationCircle Tree RanchCircle Tree Ranch

Voice 520Voice 520--749749--59805980Enrollment 1Enrollment 1--800800--381381--33183318

Fax 520Fax 520--749749--48524852